Doctor: This is why your urine ought to NEVER be clear

Doctors have warned that those with the goal of ‘clear’ urine are actually doing more harm to their health than good.

Dr Sermed Mezher, from the UK, took the world by storm this month when he shared a TikTok video about the damage over-hydration can do to the body. 

‘If you’re peeing clear, that means you are likely having more than 2.5 liters of water per day, which means your kidneys are working in overdrive to keep that fluid off your brain,’ the doctor said.

‘Water intoxication’ is the term for people who become ‘critically overhydrated’ – something that often ends in hospitalisation. 

The medical expert said that early symptoms of overhydration include headaches, a fuzzy head and drowsiness. 

He did remind people at the other of the spectrum that water intake is crucial, it’s just important to not go overboard.

‘Like most things in life, too much is a bad thing – but too little is as well,’ he said.

Dr Sermed Mezher, from the UK, took the world by storm this month when he shared a TikTok video about the damage over-hydration can do to the body 

Dr Sermed Mezher referred to a urine colour chart to make his analysis easier to understand

Dr Mezher said that for the average adult, approximately two litres a day should meet their hydration needs. 

Reactions to the video were mixed, with many surprised that ‘clear pee’ was a bad thing.

‘What do y’all really want from me? To drink water or not,’ one man asked.  

‘My life was ruined the day I discovered you’re not supposed to pee clear,’ another woman chimed in. 

Others called the advice out for being ‘very misleading’ – saying that by making people afraid to drink too much water, it would likely lead to more dehydration.

‘Yikes. Videos like this make it seem like water intoxication is common or easy to do – it’s extremely rare and there is nothing wrong with peeing clear now and then. Chronic dehydration on the other hand is extremely common,’ one man said. 

This chart illustrates what urine colour says about what is going on in our bodies

‘You don’t get hospitalized for drinking 2.5L l a day. Water intoxication occurs by drinking much more in a very short period of time. Why is he scaring people like that,’ another agreed.  

Dr Eric Chung spoke to FEMAIL about being aware about the risks of overhydration

Others argued that daily water needs varied wildly from person to person, and that if someone was even ‘slightly active’ then two litres might not be enough.

Dr Erin Chung, Professor of Surgery at The University of Queensland, spoke to FEMAIL about the dangers of drinking too much water. 

Dr Chung explained that moderation is the most important thing to remember when it comes to hydration.

‘This new trend of drinking from giant water bottles is great for keeping people hydrated and preventing kidney stones,’ the doctor said.

‘However, everything should be done in moderation to avoid upsetting the internal body mechanism that regulates fluid and electrolyte balance.’

According to the medical expert, overhydration can cause ‘deleterious effects’ on your body such as kidney strain, hormonal imbalance and swelling in the extremities.

Dr Chung advised people with concerns that they might be overhydrating to always make sure they see a professional.

‘If you feel like you are drinking too much water (feeling thirsty all the time) or have peeing too much, you need to make an appointment to see your GP for further investigations and referral to specialists,’ he said.